100 years ago - the missing months, March 1916

[Graeme]

WEDNESDAY, 1 MARCH 1916

Hostile aircraft:

Flt Lieut S T Edwards & Sub-Lieut C K Chase, 2N Sqn, E.A. out of control Bruges

Casualties:

None.



THURSDAY, 2 MARCH 1916

RFC Communiqué No 30:

2 Lt G E H Fincham and 2 Lt G Price (B.E.2c, 2127, 8 Sqn) were persistently attacked by a Fokker biplane when doing artillery patrol in the Ypres salient. The result was indecisive. The pilot reports that he distinctly saw the hostile machine using tracer bullets.

Hostile aircraft:

Sergt T P H Bayetto, 3 Sqn, Fokker E in flames Valenciennes at 07:45/08:45 - Sergt Bayetto (Morane Scout, 3 Sqn) on escort duty to the Valenciennes reconnaissance, reports having been attacked by 5 Fokkers in the neighbourhood of Valenciennes. The reconnaissance machine dived to get clear, but was closely followed by the hostile machines. Sergt Bayetto opened fire on the nearest hostile machine and drove it down, apparently into the woods near Valenciennes. After this engagement he saw no more signs of the reconnaissance machine and returned over Lille where he was again attacked by 3 Fokkers. These he eventually evaded and after circling round Lille for 15 minutes, returned to his landing ground.

Casualties:

Capt J A Cunningham (Ok), 18 Sqn, DH2 5916 - shot through on patrol Noeux-les-Mines - Fiefs - Bethune

2nd-Lieut C W Palmer (Pow; Dow 29-Mar-16) & Lieut H F Birdwood (Kia), 3 Sqn, Morane BB 5137 - missing after attack by 5 enemy machines over Valenciennes on reconnaissance; Oblt Max Immelmann, FA62, 9th victory [Souain - east of Douai]



FRIDAY, 3 MARCH 1916

Casualties:

2nd-Lieut R A Pierpont (Inj) & 2nd-Lieut T D O'Brien (Killed), 6 Sqn, BE2c 4324 - completely wrecked Abeele aerodrome on counter battery duty



SATURDAY, 4 MARCH 1916

No claims or casualties.



SUNDAY, 5 MARCH 1916

RFC Communique No 31:

A German machine was seen to fall in flames near Lievin but its destruction cannot be traced to a combat.

Casualties:

2nd-Lieut C W Seedhouse (Wia) & 2nd-Lieut H B H Cox (Ok), 9 Sqn, BE2c 2099 - took off 12:35/13:25 then hit by bullet on escort to reconnaissance



MONDAY, 6 MARCH 1916

The Germans began a fresh offensive after receiving fresh artillery supplies, at first making great progress until French counter-attacks pushed back the advancing German infantry. For the remainder of the month the Germans launched repeated attacks against the French reinforcements constantly pouring into the fortress. Of the 330 infantry regiments of the French army, 259 eventually fought at Verdun.

Falkenhayn reluctantly committed another corps of men to an attack up the left bank of the Meuse River towards a small ridge named Le Morte-homme (the 'Dead Man'), a battle that raged continuously without conclusion.

Meanwhile, casualties were mounting rapidly on both sides. The French were losing huge numbers of men, as were their German opposition. By the time the battle ended almost one million casualties had been incurred in roughly equal numbers on either side.

RFC Communique No 31:

On the night of the 5th/6th March information was received of Zeppelins raiding England. The endeavours to head off the raiders returning to Belgium in the early morning were frustrated, owing to a heavy fall of snow. Seven machines of the 1st Brigade, five of the 2nd Brigade and two machines from G.H.Q. went up, but were forced to return, having seen nothing.

In spite of the adverse weather conditions, some of the pilots reached altitudes of 13,000 feet.

Casualties:

2nd-Lieut J C Callaghan (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut J A Slater (Ok), 18 Sqn, Vickers FB5 5470 - force landed in snowstorm and overturned while scouting for Zeppelins



TUESDAY, 7 MARCH 1916

No claims or casualties.



WEDNESDAY, 8 MARCH 1916

RFC Communique No 31:

Thirty-one machines of the 1st Brigade and 21 Sqn attacked Carvin at about 11 a.m. Over 2 tons weight of bombs were dropped and considerable damage is known to have been done. One bomb is reported by a prisoner of war to have dropped on a parade of soldiers in the street, and to have killed two offcers and thirty-five men. On the same date, six hostile aeroplanes attacked the iron works at Isebergues. From a height of 10,000 feet they dropped nine bombs of about 10 kilos. One man was wounded and very little damage was caused.

Capt Wynne Eyton when patrolling for hostile aircraft between Lens and La Bassee saw two Albatroses going west over Bethune. He overhauled and engaged the rear machine. After firing a drum at it at 150 yards range, the hostile machine turned and made for home, leaving his companion. Capt Wynne Eyton followed him to the lines firing 1½ more drums. The Albatros lost about 4,000 feet in height before he reached his lines, and was last seen over Douvrin. Capt Wynne Eyton then turned and found the other Albatros over the Foret Nieppe, but he had only one drum left, and this was fired without effect. The hostile machine-gun appeared to have jammed, as the Bristol Scout went very close and no fire was opened.

Hostile aircraft:

Patrol of 7 Sqn, E.A. crashed - 17 Anti-aircraft Section reported that a German machine after being engaged with a B.E.2c, fell behind the German lines. The time coincided with an engagement between a B.E.2c of 7 Sqn and a hostile machine

Casualties:

None.



THURSDAY, 9 MARCH 1916

General Headquarters, March 10th.

"Yesterday we carried out a successful aircraft attack against the hostile railhead and billets at Carvin. It is believed that considerable damage was done. Thirty-one machines took part in the raid and all returned safely.

"As the result of a fight in the air a hostile machine and one of our own machines were brought down near Tournai.

“Last night the enemy made bombing attacks against two of our craters near the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Both attacks were repulsed. To-day there has been much artillery activity on both sides about Loos, the Hohenzollern Redoubt, and between Quinque Rue and Fauquissart. North of the latter place we damaged a hostile mine shaft by our artillery fire."

RFC Communique No 31:

The IInd Army reconnaissance was attacked in the vicinity of Tournai. During the engagement, 2 Lt R Heywood and 2 Lt D E Gayford, 20 Sqn, were forced to land, apparently owing to their engine having been hit. Prior to this, one of the attacking machines was brought down, the German pilot and observer both being killed. 2 Lts Heywood and Gayford were both slightly wounded.

This information was obtained from the pilot of a German machine which descended in our lines on the 12th instant. They also report that Capt Darley is in hospital at Lille. He has lost his thumb, and it is doubtful whether he will regain the use of his arm [Capt Darley was taken prisoner on 26 October 1915].

Hostile aircraft:

2nd-Lieut P G Scott & 2nd-Lieut G H Exley, 20 Sqn, Rumpler C crashed east of Lille at 11:30/12:30; Ltn Gerhard Frhr von Gayl (Kia) & Ltn Erwin Friedel (Kia), FA 18

Casualties:

2nd-Lieut G Price (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut G E H Fincham (Kia), 6 Sqn, BE2c 4181 - attacked by Fokker monoplane over Ypres salient; observer mortally wounded and pilot wounded and killed in fall of machine

Capt J R Howett (Kia) & Sergt T May (Kia), 20 Sqn, FE2b 6339 - took off 09:45/10:45 then landed Bailleul after observer wounded in leg in attack by Rumpler on escort to reconnaissance

2nd-Lieut R Heyward (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut D E Gayford (Pow), 20 Sqn, FE2b 6356 - took off 09:45/10:45 then attacked from rear by Fokker near Annapes made good landing under control during escort to reconnaissance

2nd-Lieut R P Turner (Kia), 1 Sqn, Morane N 5069 - a machine seen to go down south-east of Hollebeke 10:37/11:37 during combat on hostile aircraft patrol; Uffz Groescher & Ltn Patheiger, FFA 213, 1st victory [north of Wytschaete, no time]

more to come

Graeme